Leaf turner device



2 Sheets-Sheet l D. S. BOYD LEAF TURNER DEVICE es f 55/ ATTORNEY Dona/o 5. 5o

Filed Nov. l2, 1947 MEW L, B951 y D. s. BOYD 55h45 LEAF TURNER DEVICE Filed Nov. 12, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dona/d 5. oyc/ ATTORNEY INVENTOR.

Patented May 1, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LEAF' TURNER DEVICE Donald S.- Boyd, Kansas. City, Kans.

Application November 12, 1947, Serial'No. 785,478

Claims. 1.

This'invention relatesto the 'eldof advertising and displaying of merchandise' generally, thepri.- mary object being to provide a. device for'automatically turning-consecutive leaves of `a book or like pack of flexible sheets of. material. andre"- turning the said packto an original starting'position for repeating the cycle of operation.

The most important -objectof thisv invention. is the provision ofa leaf turningA devicein' the-na.- ture of that set' forth in Patents-Nos. 1,630,290 and 1,689,106, issued May 31, 1927andl' October 23, 1928, respectively and" to improve uporra deviceA of such clrlaracterv las: disclosed' in my.A copending application bearingf Serial No. 724,615; filed Januaryv 27', 1947, and covering Leaf Turner.z

Another important-object of this-invention` is' the' provision of' a leafr turning'device having a pair of 'spaced apart'` rotatable shafts, the uppering a pack of leaves and`havi`ng'rele'asablevmeans operable by the leaf turningY mechanism perse forholding the sleeve against rotation onthe upper shaft until the last leaf of" the pack is being turnedl over the'uppermost'shaft.

A further'object of this inventionis the provision of `a leaf turner ofthe kind" above set` forth having a spring loaded clutch anda; latch'- mechanism for holding the clutchl against thev sleeve untilY such time as the last pack is being'turned, theV leaf turning portion ofthedevice being operable to release said-latch.

Another important object of this invention i's the provision of al leaf turning device" having means associated therewith for maintaining.r the pack'of leavesy in a separated condition from the leaf'y tov be turned asf the latter commences its folding movement over one oftherotatable shafts of the assembly.

Many additional'objects willbe lmadeclea-rfduring the course of the following specification, ref'- erence being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure' l is a front elevational view. of a1 leaf turning device made in accordance-.with :ny/pres'- ent invention, parts being broken` away` and in section to reveal' details off construction;

Fig. 2` is a cross sectional view taken on` line II--lIof Fig. l.

Fig. 3- is ia cross sectional view taken on irregular line IIL-III of Fig; 1' showing parts thereof in a different operating position from that shown in Fig. 1'.

Fig. 4 isJ a fragmentary cross sectional View similar to Fig; 3 showing certainparts ofthe as sembly in a different phase of its cycle of op'- eration.

Fig. 5r is a fragmentary cross sectional view similar to Fig; 3 showing other parts ofthe mechanismlin an operative position.

Fig; 6 is a fragmentary perspective View of the clutch4 lat'ching mechanism and Fig. 7 isv a, fragmentary cross sectional' view taken on line VII-VII of Fig. 2.

Referring now moreY specifically to the-drawings, thefnumeral" Hl designates broadly'a frameY having anl opening l2' and anopening It at'the'` front'and rear thereof respectively;

The normally uppermost shaft I6' is rigidly mounted: upon the frame Itl in a horizontal po'- sition within a pair'of'spaced` apart brackets IB: A' pair of bearings 'Zrnounted-upon the frame I0 near the lowermost end thereof mounts a shaft 22 for rotation. Theshafts I6 and 22' are substantially parallel and each have a pair of sprocket Wheels mounted thereon. The shaft I'E has sprockets Mi rotatably mounted thereon at each of`its ends while-the shaft 22 hasa` pair of sprocket wheels 26 thereon adjacent the respective bearings-'wand rotatable with-the shaft 212.

A pair of' endless chains 28 pass overea'ch of thevsprocket'sV 24' and the sprockets 26', as clearly illustrated in Fig. l and a horizontalrod 30 secured'at each end thereof to` one of the chains 28= in a horizontal position and substantially parallel to thel shafts I5 and 22, completes the conveyor assembly ofthe device. Rotation` of thev shaftsy H5 and 212, and thereby movement` of the endless chains 2B in the direction ofthe arrows shownl in- Fig. 2", is accomplished" through a prime mover, which, in the instance illustrated, constitutes an electric motor 32.

A pair` of" sprockets 34 and 36 on the shaft 22 andv a shaft 3l; of the motor 32 respectively, are joined by a short endless chain 38. The motor shaft 36 has operably secured thereto at its-opposite end, an impeller (not shown) and disposed' Within a housing 40 forwcreating ya suction within anv elongated` tubular memberA 42. Thev member 42? is disposed transversely across the frame l0 and suitablyfmounted thereonland has connection with the housing 40 through the medium of a conduit 4:3.

A plurality of openings 44 are formed in thev member 412 as illustrated' in Figs. 1, 3 and 5 for reasons hereinafter more fully described'.

The uppermost horizontal shaft i 0' has a sleeve 46 loosely telescopi-7rd thereon for mountinga packf'or' leaves, broadly designated bythe numeral 48. These leaves 48 are fastened together by a bracket 50. This bracket 55 is L-shaped in cross section as shown in Fig. 6 and has attachment to the sleeve 46 through the medium of a pair of ears 52. A plurality of pins 53 pass through the bracket 5I) and the pack of leaves 43, there being a removable plate 55 received by the pins 53 and disposed along the back of pack 48 to hold the latter tightly in place. Obviously the leaves of pack 48 may be individually threaded on pins 53 or bound together and then mounted on bracket 55. It is thus seen that the entire pack 48 is disposed in depending relationship to the sleeve 46 and the shaft I5 in full view through the opening I2 in the front of the frame I0. When the pack 43 is in a suspended relationship as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the lowermost loose edges of the leaves hang directly in front of the openings 44 of the member 42.

A clutch mechanism broadly designated by the numeral 54 includes a collar 56 circumscribing the shaft I6 and having a transverse pin 58 passing therethrough and through an elongated slot 6|] formed in the shaft I6. A spring 66 coiled about the shaft I6 is held against the collar 55 by a second collar 68, mounted upon the shaft I6. It is thus seen that the spring 66 yieldably holds the collar 55 against the sleeve 46.

A pair of bearings I on the bracket 5i) near each end thereof and adjacent the normally rearmost face of bracket 50 journal a pair of stub shafts 'I2 having arms I4 secured thereto. These arms 'I4 are joined by a cross bar I6 at their lowermost ends. This cross bar I6 extends the entire length of the bracket 50 and traverses the width of the sheets of material forming the pack 48.

As illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 6, this bar 'I6 is disposed between the last sheet or leaf of the pack 48 and the remaining leaves thereof. -In other words, the bar 'I6 is disposed in front of the last leaf of the pack 48. The uppermost free ends of the arms I4 are each provided with a counterweight 18, which weights 'I8 tend to move the bar I away from the last sheet of the pack 48 and against the remaining sheets thereof.

A latch 8D pivotally secured to the bracket 5D as at 82 has an arm 84 overlying the bracket 56 and extending below the collar 56. Extending upwardly from the arm 84 of the latch 86 is a pin 86 integral with the arm l|34 and normally held within an opening 88 formed in the collar 56 by a leaf spring 98 mounted upon the bracket 55 and underlying the arm 84. This latch 8D extends outwardly beyond one end of the bracket 56 in overlying relationship to one of the arms 14, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 6 and '7. Each of the endless chains 28 has an idling sprocket 92 mounted upon the frame IIJ and substantially midway between the shafts |6 and 22 for disposing the normally rearmost length of the chains 28 at an angle illustrated clearly in Figs. 2 and 3.

A U-shaped rod 94 substantially coextensive in length with the shaft 22 is looped about the shaft 22 as at 96. This rod 94 is freely swingable upon the shaft 22 and has an offset portion 98 on the free edge thereof. A shelf |00 underlies the rod 94 for holding the latter in a normally horizontal position.

In operation, the pack of leaves 48 is suspended from the sleeve 46 through the medium of bracket 50 in a substantially vertical position as illustrated in Fig. 2. As the motor 32 is caused to be energized, the shafts I6 and 22 as well as the sprockets 24 and 26 thereon, will be rotated. Such rotation will move the endless chains 26 and the transverse bar 36 connected thereto. As the bar 30 moves around the lowermost sprockets 25, it will move into engagement and in underlying relationship to the rod 94 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 5. This rod S4 will thereby be moved upwardly and the portion S3 thereof will contact the pack of leaves 48 and be interposed between remaining leaves of the pack 48 and the leaf |52 that has previously been sucked forwardly toward the openings 44 within the member 42. As the bar 3S continues to be moved upwardly along the back of the leaf |52, the same will move out of engagement with the rod 94 and the latter will be free to fall downwardly by gravity to its normal position upon the shelf |50. As bar 38 continues to move upwardly, it will fold the sheet |62 over the top of the sleeve 46. During such normal operation, the bar 'i6 remains in the position illustrated in Fig. 3 and the latch 68 is'engaged with the collar 55. Thus, the sleeve 46 is held against rotation on the shaft |6 and the bracket 58 is thereby held against movement. When all of the leaves of the pack 48 have been folded over the sleeve 46 with the exception of the last leaf thereof, the bar 30 will move behind such last sheet because of the suction action present at the openings 44. This bar 36 will move upwardly in the same manner as above described and will also move behind the arms 74. This action is clearly illustrated in Fig. 6 and as bar 30 comes into contact with the arms 14, the latch 86 will be released thereby releasing the sleeve 46. As the bar 30 continues to move around the uppermost sprockets 24, the arms 14, cross bar T6, bracket 50 and sleeve 46 will all be moved over the shaft IG in the manner illustrated in Fig. 4. With the latch 86 released, the collar 45 will be free to release itself against the action of the spring loaded clutch 56. When the entire pack has been thus turned over the shaft I6, the opening 88 of the collar 55, will again move into position where the pin 86 will automatically engage therewith.

It is notable that as the rod 30 moves downwardly along the rearmost stretch of the chains 28, the same will pass over the idler sprockets 92 and move the entire pack 48 toward the suction means including the member 42. The single sheet |02 will be held by such suction and when the bar 30 continues to move downwardly past icllers 92, the remainder of the pack will fall back slowly by gravity to a vertical position.

It has been found that when the rod 94 is entirely omitted from the assembly, a leaf or leaves of the pack 48 that may become accidentally crimpled or have parts of their lowermost edges folded into the path of the rod 30, will be carried along with the leaf |62. By the provision of this rod 94 and its portion 98, the crimpled leaves of the pack 48 are positively moved out of the way and there is no tendency of the rod 30 to engage with sheets or leaves not intended to be folded.

The counterweights 'I8 on the arm I4 are selected to have only a slight tendency to move the bar I6 against the pack 43. Thus, as the leaves are continually folded over the sleeve 46, the arm 'I4 will not accidentally disengage the latch 86. However, when all of the leaves of the pack 48 have been removed with the exception of the last leaf, the weights 18 will cause the arms I4 to swing tightly against the latch B0 and as the rod 36 moves upwardly, the same will move into engagement with the arm 'I4 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 6.

It is clear, therefore, that there will be no tendency whatsoever of the bracket 50 to op over the shaft i6 prior to all of the sheets being folded thereover with the exception of the last sheet. rIhe possibility of the last sheet clinging to the sheet next adjacent thereto and thereby causing movement of the bracket 50 and rotation of the sleeve d6, is positively eliminated. This feature, along with the utilization of the rod 94 and its function, constitutes the two primary improvements of my present leaf turner over that which is set forth in my aforesaid copending application. Tests have proved that virtually any weight sheet may be used for the pack 43, the only changes that need be made, being perhaps a change of the weights 'I8 and a shifting of the collar `68 upon the shaft i6 to increase or lessen the action of the spring 66 upon the clutch mechanism.

Manifestly many details of construction herein set forth for the purpose of illustration only may be changes without departing from the broad principles herein set forth. It is, therefore, desired to be limited only by the spirit of this invention and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a leaf turning device of the character described, a horizontal shaft; a sleeve telescoped on said shaft and rotatable thereon; means for fastening together a plurality of leaves of flexible material at one end thereof, said means having connection with the said sleeve for suspending the leaves therefrom; structure for folding said leaves one at a time over said sleeve; and releasable means for holding the sleeve against rotation on the shaft as said leaves are folded.

2. In a leaf turning device of the character described, a horizontal shaft; a sleeve telescoped on said shaft and rotatable thereon; means for fastening together a plurality of leaves of ilexible material at one end there-of, said means having connection with the said sleeve for suspending the leaves therefrom; structure for folding said leaves one at a time over said sleeve; and releasable means for holding the sleeve against rotation on the shaft as said leaves are folded, said releasable means including a spring-loaded clutch on the shaft and latch means for holding the clutch engaged with the sleeve, said latch having parts operable by said structure when all of said leaves have been folded for permitting free rotation of the sleeve.

3. In a leaf turner; a frame; upper and lower horizontal shafts mounted within the frame; sprockets loosely mounted on the upper shaft; sprockets secured to the lower shaft; chains operating over the sprockets and adapted to transmit movement of the lower shaft to the sprockets of the upper shaft; a sleeve loosely mounted on the upper shaft, a clamp forming a part of the sleeve and adapted to clamp a pack of leaves s uspending the pack of leaves vertically within the frame; means embodying a clutch at one end of the sleeve, adapted to normally hold the sleeve against movement; means for successively turning the leaves of the pack of leaves supported by the clamp, successively exposing the leaves to view; and means operated by the leaf-turning means for rotating the sleeve and clamp against the action of the clutch as the last leaf of the pack is turned.

4. In a leaf turner; a frame; upper and lower horizontal shafts mounted within the frame; sprockets loosely mounted on the upper shaft; sprockets secured to the lower shaft; chains operating over the sprockets and adapted to transmit movement of the lower shaft to the sprockets of the upper shaft; a sleeve loosely mounted on the upper shaft, a clamp forming a part of the sleeve and adapted to clamp a pack of leaves suspending the pack of leaves vertically within the frame; releasable apparatus at one end of the sleeve, adapted to normally hold the sleeve against movement; means for successively turning the leaves of the pack of leaves supported by the clamp, successively exposing the leaves to view; and means operated by the leaf-turning means for releasing said apparatus and rotating the sleeve and clamp as the last leaf of the pack is turned, said last mentioned means having parts normally disposed between said last leaf and the remainder of said pack.

5. In a leaf turner; a frame; upper and lower horizontal shafts mounted within the frame; sprockets loosely mounted on the `upper shaft; sprockets secured to the lower shaft; chains operating over the sprockets and adapted to transmit movement of the lower shaft to the sprockets of the upper shaft; a sleeve loosely mounted on the upper shaft, a clamp forming a part of the sleeve and adapted to clamp a pack of leaves suspending the pack of leaves vertically within the frame; releasable apparatus at one end of the sleeve and normally holding the sleeve against rotation on the upper shaft; means for successively turning the leaves of the pack of leaves supported by the clamp, successively exposing the leaves to view; means operated by the leafturning means for releasing said apparatus and rotating the sleeve and clamp as the last leaf of the pack is turned; and means forming a part of said apparatus and engageable with the sleeve for yieldably retarding the rotation of said sleeve when the apparatus is released.

DONALD S. BOYD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATEN'I'S Number Name Date 1,630,290 Boyd May 3l, 1927 1,689,106 Boyd Oct. 23, 1928 2,334,751 Chapman Nov. 23, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 605,718 Germany Nov. 16, 1934 

